Vodafone Business Secures Major Four-Year Deal to Modernize Centrica’s UK Operations

2026-01-27 companies

London, Tuesday, 27 January 2026.
Leveraging Generative AI and advanced automation, this four-year strategic alliance with CGI will overhaul Centrica’s digital infrastructure across 80 UK sites. The deal aims to streamline operations for 30,000 devices while introducing combined energy and connectivity packages for British Gas and Hive customers.

A Technological Overhaul Driven by AI

This agreement marks a significant operational shift for Centrica, the parent company of British Gas and Hive, as it moves to modernize its legacy systems through a comprehensive digital transformation strategy [1][5]. Under the terms of the deal finalized on January 27, 2026, Vodafone Business, in collaboration with Vodafone Intelligent Solutions (VOIS) and CGI, will provide a suite of fixed and mobile services alongside IT End User Compute support [1][5]. The scope of this infrastructure upgrade is extensive, covering 80 Centrica locations and supporting approximately 30,000 devices throughout the United Kingdom [1][4]. By integrating advanced technologies such as Generative AI (GenAI) and machine learning, the partnership aims to automate routine operations and personalize experiences for both employees and customers, enhancing overall productivity [2][3].

Strategic Expansion for VOIS

For VOIS, this contract represents a pivotal moment in its commercial evolution. Historically focused on internal telecommunications support, this agreement stands as the division’s first major enterprise win outside of the telecom sector [5]. This expansion follows a strategic partnership signed with Accenture in October 2024, which was designed to scale VOIS’s commercial capabilities [1][4]. The division currently leverages a massive global workforce to support these initiatives, employing over 15,337 people in India and more than 4,038 in Romania [1][2]. Gary Adey, CEO of VOIS, highlighted that this deal validates the unit’s new commercial blueprint for Shared Operations, positioning it to deliver long-term value beyond internal Vodafone requirements [5].

Beyond infrastructure, the alliance is set to deliver tangible benefits to the consumer market. Vodafone Business and Centrica intend to launch a new suite of combined connectivity and energy offers specifically targeted at Vodafone UK, British Gas, and Hive customers [1][4]. This initiative builds upon recent commercial synergies; for instance, Vodafone customers were introduced to a Hive thermostat offer earlier in January 2026 [4]. Furthermore, the partnership includes a strong social responsibility component. Vodafone has committed to supporting the British Gas Energy Trust, assisting Centrica’s ongoing efforts to tackle fuel poverty across the UK [1][5].

Market Reaction and Financial Context

Following the announcement on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, Vodafone Group Public Limited Company (VOD) saw its share price slip 0.3% to 104.2 pence in early London trading, retreating slightly from a 52-week peak of 105.6 pence reached the previous day [6]. Despite the minor fluctuation, the company continues its capital allocation strategy, having repurchased 2,570,142 ordinary shares on January 26 at a volume-weighted average price of 104.82 pence [6]. This buyback represents a capital deployment of approximately 2.694 million pounds sterling. Investors are now looking toward February 5, 2026, when Vodafone is scheduled to release its third-quarter trading update and issue its interim dividend payment [6].

Sources

Digital Transformation Corporate Partnerships